Batting practice device and method

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a simplified structure for effectively providing batting practice, indoors or outdoors. To one end of a strong lightweight cord is secured a baseball and to the other end of the cord is secured a segment of elastic material. A clasp is connected to the other end of the elastic member and removably engages the upper end of a stake for outdoor use of the device or a bolt for indoor use. The assembly is anchored substantially midway between a batter and a pitcher. The latter tensions the elastic member and releases the ball, which is carried with appropriate speed to a plate at which the batter stands.

United States Patent [1 1 Boyer Oct. 23, 1973 BATTING PRACTICE DEVICE AND Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham METHOD Assistant ExaminerTheatrice Brown [76] Inventor: Ralph C. Boyer, Crystal Heights Attorney-Rogers Ezen Eflers & Robbms Rd., Crystal City, Mo. 63019 221 Filed: Apr. 9, 1971 ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 132,760

The present invention is a simplified structure for effectively providing batting practice, indoors or outdoors. To one end of a strong lightweight cord is secured a baseball and to the other end of the cord is secured a segment of elastic material. A clasp is connected to the other end of the elastic member and removably engages the upper end of a stake for outdoor use of the device or a bolt for indoor use. The assembly is anchored substantially midway between a batter and a pitcher. The latter tensions the elastic member and releases the ball, which is carried with appropriate speed to a plate at which the batter stands.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented. Oct. 23, 1973 1 BATTING PRACTICE DEVICE AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the sport of baseball, and more particularly to a novel structure for and method of achieving batting practice without employing a pitcher and with maximum safetyto all.

2. Description Of The Prior Art In the prior art, both patented and public use, are many structures, devices and methods for batting practice purposes. Complicated and expensive machines are presently employed by professional and other baseball teams for batting practice. Less expensive and simpler constructions have been used. However, there has long existed the need for a simple, inexpensive, effective, safe batting practice device, which can be employed alike by high school and lower grade baseball participants, as well as by more sophisticated players, with a.saving of manpower, yet obtaining realistic batting practice, which the present structure and method satisfy. 7 l

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the present novel batting practice structure includes a baseball to which one end of a strong, lightweight cord is secured, the other end of the cord being secured to an elongated elastic member. A latching member is connected to the other end of the elastic member and removably engages the upper end of a stake suitable for outdoor use or a 'bolt or other member suitable for indoor use. In carrying out the novel method, the anchoring stake or other member is secured in the ground or to a floor substantially midway between a home plate and a pitchers box." A batter takes his position at the "home plate. A pitcher holds the ball in front of him, placing the elastic member under tension, and releases it towards the batter with a slight lifting or other maneuver, whereupon the elastic mamber propels the ball to a position over the home plate at a speed equivalent to a pitched ball.

Therefore, objects of the presentinvention are to provide a novel batting practice structure and method which satisfy the longexistingneed, which achiev e effective batting practice with minimum use of experienced pitching personnel and with maximum safety to the batter and the pitcher," which can be effectively employed by players having little or no pitching skill, which requires a minimum amount of area of a playing field for use so that several structures may be in use at the same time, which can be employed indoors and outdoors in areas of a radiussubstantially half the distance between the pitchers box and home plate, or less for small children, which is inexpensive yet durable for long use with minimal maintenance, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and'advantages sought.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the employment of the present novel method in the use of the presconnected thereto, the elastic being broken away for space conservation;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental, vertical, cross-sectional view through a portion of a floor and socket, an anchor bolt being mounted in the socket and the removable latch being connected to the anchor bolt, the elastic member being broken away for space conservation; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 at thereto, the movable latch and elastic member fragment being shown in vertical position.

DESCRIPTION'OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 10 indicates generally a batting practice structure or device incorporating the teachings of the present invention.

The structure 10 comprises a baseball 12, a lightweight strong cord 14, a sturdy elastic member 16, a latch member 18, and an anchor pin or spike 20.

The baseball 12 preferably is an official regulation ball both for effective batting practice and for long use. As illustrated, two parallel channels 22 are formed through the baseball 12, as with a nail of suitable diameter, or the like. The spaced channels 22 are close to a parallel diameter of the baseball 12, as is clear from FIG. 2. A segment 23 of cord like the cord 14, which may be of two hundred pound nylon cord, for example, is fed through one channel 22, returned through the other channel 22, and secured at 26, as by knotting and heat sealing, leaving a loop 25 at the other side. One end of the cord 14 is fed through the loop 25, folded back and secured at 24, as by knotting and heat sealing. Other attaching means may be employed. At its other end, the cord 14 is looped through a looped end 28 of the elastic member 16 and secured at 30, as by a knot and heat sealing, or the like. The looped end 28 is formed as by a metal clip 32. Similarly, a looped end 34 is formed at the other end of the elastic member 16 by a metal clip 32. The elastic member 16 may comprise a segment of trampoline shock cord, or the like. The latch. 18 is illustrated as including a loopportion 36 trapped in the looped end 34 and a conventional looped end 38 incorporating a slide gate 40. The anchor pin 20 includes an upper looped portion 42 engaged by the loop 38 and a soil penetrating point 44. A wing element 46 is welded, or otherwise secured, to the anchor pin 20, which aids in keeping the pin from pulling out of the ground, reduces rotation of the anchor pin 20 'to a minimum, and positions the looped portion 42. If desired, the latch 18 may be omitted and the looped end 34 engaged directly with the looped portion 42 of the pin 40.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 the latch 18 is removably connected to the loop head 48 of a bolt 50 having a threaded shank portion 52 threadedly mounted in a threaded an nular socket 54 countersunk in a floor 56 and maintained in position by suitable fastening means, as screws 58*. A lock nut 60 maintains the bolt 50 in selected position;

In FIG. 1 the batting practice structure 10 is illustrated as anchored in the ground substantially midway between a home plate" 64 and the center of a pitchers mound" 66. A batter 68 stands ready to strike the baseball 12 which is released by a pitcher" 70. Manifestly, the overall length of the batting practice structure 10 is approximately half the distance between the trailing point of the home plate" 64 and the front of the pitcher's plate on the pitcher's mound 66, less the average stretch of the stretchable member 16. There is little stretch in the nylon cord 14. The formula has the objective of a structure which, on being released by the pitcher from the pitching mound," will just reach a point substantially at the front edge of the home plate 64. Manifestly, for particular circumstances, the objective is easy to achieve by simple arithmetic and measurement. By throwing" the baseball 12 to a point substantially at the front edge of the home plate 64, chances of hitting the batter 68 with the baseball 12 are reduced to a very small fraction, which has been demonstrated by experimental work. Similarly, chances of the batted ball striking the pitcher 70 are reduced to zero, particularly if the pitcher steps rearwardly a foot or two after releasing the baseball 12. It is to be noted that the baseball 12 is held in the hand in the manner of FIG. 1 and then released with a little upward movement of the hand, so that the baseball 12 travels on an are which will bring the baseball 12 within the batting zone as it reaches the home plate 64. Further, by hand manipulations in the release of the baseball 12, its path of travel can be varied.

A working structure 10 made under the present invention includes a regulation baseball 12, a nylon cord 14 of about 24 feet, an elastic member 16 of inches effective length, and a latch member 18 of about 3 inches, totaling with loop 25 approximately 26 feet. The distance between point of home plate and the pitcher's plate is sixty feet 6 inches on a regulation baseball diamond. Hence, there is a stretch of about 4 feet. Manifestly, dimensions may be varied.

As has been heretofore noted, the present structure 10 and the novel method can be employed indoors as well as outdoors. Hence, batting practice can go on in bad weather as well as in beautiful weather. A standard gymnasium, or the like, provides adequate space.

The present structure 10 and novel method can be employed as a game. Variations in dimensions of the elements and in the type of ball facilitate adaptation of the present invention to games and to use with small children, for exsmple.

It is clear that there has been provided a novel structure and method which fulfill the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the several parts, substitution of equivalent elements or steps, and rearrangement of parts or steps, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A batting practice structure for delivering a ball by a pitcher at a pitchers mound to a batter at a home plate and returning same in the direction of the pitcher comprising, in combination, a pitchers mound from where the ball is delivered, a home plate spaced from the pitchers mound," a ball, cord means, and anchor means anchoring one end of said cord means at a position between the pitcher's mound and the home plate and no closer to the pitchers mound than home plate, said cord means being connected at the one end to said anchor means and at the other end to said ball, the cord means having an elastic cord portion next to the anchor means, the remainder of the cord means being substantially nonelastic, the nonelastic portion being of a length substantially greater than the elastic portion, said cord means being of a length substantially equal to the distance between the position of the anchor means and the pitchers mound, less the propelling stretch of the cord means required to propel the ball from the pitcher at the pitcher's mound to the batter at home plate.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the anchor is positioned generally in line with and substantially midway between the home plate and the pitcher's mound." 

1. A batting practice structure for delivering a ball by a pitcher at a ''''pitcher''s mound'''' to a batter at a ''''home plate'''' and returning same in the direction of the pitcher comprising, in combination, a ''''pitcher''s mound'''' from where the ball is delivered, a ''''home plate'''' spaced from the ''''pitcher''s mound,'''' a ball, cord means, and anchor means anchoring one end of said cord means at a position between the ''''pitcher''s mound'''' and the ''''home plate'''' and no closer to the ''''pitcher''s mound'''' than ''''home plate,'''' said cord means being connected at the one end to said anchor means and at the other end to said ball, the cord means having an elastic cord portion next to the anchor means, the remainder of the cord means being substantially nonelastic, the nonelastic portion being of a length substantially greater than the elastic portion, said cord means being of a length substantially equal to the distance between the position of the anchor means and the ''''pitcher''s mound,'''' less the propelling stretch of the cord means required to propel the ball from the pitcher at the ''''pitcher''s mound'''' to the batter at ''''home plate.''''
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the anchor is positIoned generally in line with and substantially midway between the ''''home plate'''' and the ''''pitcher''s mound.'''' 